Expert: Joanne - 1/18/2008

Question
Hi Holly,

I am 20 years old and I have been bulimic for a little over a year now.  I weigh 110lbs and I am 5'5".  I know that I am small, everybody tells me so, my boyfriend, my parents and my friends.  Also my ribs and collar bones stick out.  But even so, I always think I'm fat or big.  

I weigh myself every single morning and absolutely live by the scale.  In other words, if I'm not happy with the number I see I freak out and have an awful day.  I know this is completely wrong but I have tried giving up the scales and when I do it just makes me freak out even more as I feel out of control.

I always think people are lying to me or just being polite when they call me skinny and even though I'm a dress size UK6-8, I can't help thinking that the clothes sizes are made big or something.  I know that this is completely insane I just can't seem to think normally.

I don't like feeling this way and although I have disordered thoughts like, "maybe I should lose another 5lbs", I know in my heart that I don't want to end up anorexic or worsen my bulimia.  So I'm trying to recover and although it's difficult, I think I can do it.

However, I do no exercise as I used to exercise compulsively.  I would like to start again though, tone up my body and maintain my weight.  I would ultimately like to do 40mins of cardio plus some weight training 5 times a day.  I've heard that muscle weighs more than fat though, and I am terrified of gaining weight.  How do I start exercising again and keep maintaining my weight?


Answer
Anna

I'm hoping that you last sentence meant to read 5 times a week, and not a day!  If that is what you are aiming for a day, that is way too much, and you will adversely affect your health!

I think that the best thing you can do is aim to eat 1500-1800 calories a day to keep your metabolism working to its full potential, and exercise on that, without the vomiting.

Eating a well-balanced diet should allow you to burn calories and lose 'fat' weight to gain 'muscle' weight.  This shouldn't have huge effects on your weight in long term, and believe you me - you will look so much better being defined than being thin!!

I do hope that you will consider talking to your Dr or a counsellor about this though, before it really begins to cause major health problems.

Holly